Ipomoea plant named ‘ISGHG04-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ipomoea batatas  cultivar named ‘ISGHG04-1’ is disclosed, characterized by bright green heart-shaped foliage, which exhibits improved resistance to sun-scald. Plants have a dense, bush forming habit and produce many lateral branches, without pinching or chemical growth regulators. The new cultivar is an  Ipomoea batatas , typically suited for ornamental container and garden use.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ipomoea batatas.

Variety denomination: ‘ISGHG04-1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a chance discovery by the inventor, SteveJones. The variety was discovered as a naturally occurring whole plantmutation from an unnamed, unpatented proprietary variety of Ipomoeabatatas. The new variety was discovered in August 2018 at a commercialgreenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar ‘ISGHG04-1’ was first performed by vegetative tipcuttings in a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. in October2018. ‘ISGHG04-1’ has since produced several generations and has shownthat the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type. Typical asexual reproduction of the new variety is byvegetative tip cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ISGHG04-1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ISGHG04-1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ISGHG04-1’ as a new and distinct Ipomoeacultivar:

-   -   1. Vigorous, spreading growth habit.    -   2. Bright green foliage color.    -   3. Dense and bushy plant habit.    -   4. Very well branched, without pinching or chemical growth        regulator use.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGHG04-1’ are similar to the parent in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, ‘ISGHG04-1’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. The new variety has greater plant vigor than the parent        variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ISGHG04-1’ can be compared to the unpatentedcommercial variety Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Lime’.Plants of ‘ISGHG04-1’ are similar to plants of ‘Sweet CarolineSweetheart Lime’ in some horticultural characteristics, however, plantsof ‘ISGHG04-1’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has greater plant vigor than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety has less sun scalding in high light        conditions than the comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘ISGHG04-1’, seen in the right side of the photograph.The plant on the left of the photograph is the abovementioned comparatorvariety ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Lime’. Both plants are approximately8 weeks old, from an unrooted cutting, shown in a 6 inch pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the foliage of both the new variety andthe abovementioned comparator. Foliage of the new variety is on theright in FIG. 2, foliage of this comparator is seen on the left side ofthe photograph. Plants were grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The R.H.S.Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The following observations and measurementsdescribe ‘ISGHG04-1’ plants grown during the Spring months in agreenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif., under bright, unshaded conditions.Average day temperatures were approximately 20° C. to 26° C. and theaverage night temperature was approximately 15° C. to 18° C. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ipomoea batatas ‘ISGHG04-1’.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 8 weeks from an unrooted    cutting.-   Container size of the plant described: 1 gallon commercial    container.-   Propagation:    -   -   Propagation method.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots suitable for transplanting.—Summer —            about 6 days at an average temperature of 24° C.; Winter —            about 10 days at an average temperature of 24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy. Roots colored closest to            RHS Yellow-White 158A.        -   Tuber description.—Not observed to date.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Spreading. Dense and bushy.        -   Height.—Measured from top of soil line of pot, approximately            15 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 50 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—Very free branching, alternate or            whorled occurring.-   Primary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—7 to 32 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous to rough.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Internode length.—0.5-2.0 cm.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed.-   Secondary lateral branches:    -   -   Length.—3 to 5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Very slight rough pubescence.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Internode length.—0.7 to 1.0 cm.        -   Quantity per 20 week old plant.—Approximately 10 to 20.        -   Adventitious roots at nodes.—Not observed.-   New shoot growth characteristics:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Aspect.—Upright in center of plant, outward along outer            circumference.        -   Texture.—Glabrous or somewhat rough.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled and alternate, simple.        -   Average length.—10 cm.        -   Average width.—6 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Cordate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Aspect.—Mostly flat, slight upward fold at mid-vein.        -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Average 10 to 25.-   Foliage color:    -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Young foliage under side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 147D.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Mature foliage under side.—Near RHS Green 138C.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Palmate, reticulate.        -   Venation color upper leaf.—Near RHS Yellow-Green N144C.        -   Venation color lower leaf.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Average range from approximately 6 to 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous to very slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong, very flexible.        -   Aspect.—Straight to slightly undulate.-   Flower: Flowering not observed to date.-   Other characteristics:-   Seeds and fruits: No seeds/fruits observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal pests and diseases of Ipomoea has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately    2° C. Good high temperature tolerance, observed to at least 38° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ipomoea batatasplant named ‘ISGHG04-1’ as herein illustrated and described.